THE BENNY GOODMAN STORY

US, 1955, 116 minutes, Colour.
Steve Allen, Donna Reed.
Directed by Valentine Davies.

The Benny Goodman Story was made by Universal Studios in the wake of the success of the Glenn Miller Story with James Stewart and June Allyson.

This film features Steve Allen as a look-alike Benny Goodman, very serious but talented with the clarinet. Donna Reed is attractive as the girl who will eventually marry him. Amongst the guests in the supporting cast are Sammy Davis Snr as Fletcher Henderson and Harry James as himself.

The story is predictable enough: Chicago 1919, a young poor lad who gets clarinet lessons and grows up to be Benny Goodman. It is not an easy path, moving from more traditional ballroom waltzes and popular music to his new sound. However, he eventually emerges with some success. The film was written and directed by Valentine Davies. It might have been stronger had it had a more experienced director. However, it is a pleasant tribute to Benny Goodman.

1. Entertaining Biopic? Benny Goodman and his career? His music and clarinet playing? (And Steve Allan miming to Goodman's own playing.)

2. Colour photography, the atmosphere of the 20s and 30s, Chicago, the American cities? Sense of period? The music, the range, old sounds and new sounds? The influence of Jazz?

3. The title, the focus on Benny Goodman? His career, life? Influence on American music? American bands?

4. Benny as a young boy in Chicago, his mother and father and their poverty, his brothers and the instruments, the music lessons? His being younger and picked on? His training, success? Going on the boat and playing? His interest in playing popular music rather than classical? The changes in his career, his being creative with his clarinet playing? The influence of jazz? The influence of radio, records? As an individual, with his associates, with the big band? The radio performance and Let's Dance? Other bookings? The people who were suspicious? His playing the classical concerto and its success? His playing popular music and people` being converted to it? The applause in the Paramount Theatre at New York? Achievement?

5. Benny Goodman as a person: serious young man, integrity, his discussion with the gangster so that they could go to the City, the support? Friendships and loyalties? Manager? With John? Friendship with Alice, association, discussions? The classical concert and her wariness? Her continued support, going out to California to see him? His records? His not wanting to marry her because of his being on the move? The final concert? and her presence?

6. Alice, with John, attracted to Benny Goodman, not liking his music, a musical snob, the classical concert and her sitting next to his mother, the success and the apology, continued presence, friendship, discussions, converted to the music, in love, wanting to marry him, his putting her off, her going away, the visit to his mother and the mother's explanation, the reconciliation, going back for the concert in Carnegie Hall?

7. His parents, his father's support, mother's support, the going to the concert, wariness about Alice, discussion with her son, with Alice herself, the reconciliation at the concert?

8. The members of the band, their talent, working with Benny? John, the managers the bookings?

9. The background of jazz. the jazz players, New Orleans and the black influence, Fletcher Henderson?

10. Harry James and the other guests? The importance of the big bands ?in the 20s, 30s and 40s?

11. An enjoyable biopic, tribute, movie of the 50s?